Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-05-21

Inc corporate limits OF SIOUX City include
only four square miles, and the city has
grown beyond these lines in all directions. In
due time the outlying additions will be in
Guided within the corporation. An election
Is TO be held here on the 9th inst. to extend
the limits to include the plated territory and
the thousands OF people belonging 80 the city.
II is probable that the measure will carry by a
large majority, for the people here are public
spirited and progressive. They will not allow
their splendid city to be divided into several
little municipalities. SIN union there Is
STRENGTH" is as sound a doctrine for the CT =
as for The nation.
The only boom that appears to have struck
this CT y, has made itself tangible and durable
in form OF brick and mortar and other sub
~stantial improvements. While other places
nave been baIlooning prices, the people here
have been steadily building and filling up va.
cant lots along the business streets, and
among the residences. During the wear 1856
the building record showed an expenditure Of
81, 300 COO. Some OF the buildings put UP are
very costly and elegant-the Hotel Garretson
being one OF the number, costing S2iS,00
Nearly all the business houses and public
buildings are handsome structures, erected
with an eye to architectural effect as we'll as
solidity. This makes a favorable impression
upon the transient visitor.
The probabilities are that the year 1887 will
go beyond the year 1855 In the building line.
There are now over $1,000, 900 worth of build
ing improvements In sight, including a grand
opera house, chamber OF commerce, the pack
ing house, and several very handsome bust
ness blocks.
The street car lines now I'm operation and
In process OF construction are giving value to
suburban property, annihilating distance by
means Of
RAPID TRANSIT.
The horse-car lines now being operated
cover a distance OF about seven miles on
sntma NJ the nrtuctnat business ana racitapoa
streets. A motor line Is being built from the
West Side to the splendid suburban property
known as Highland park and Riverside park,
destined to be a popular summer resort, as
well as desirable for residence. This line is
to be, when completed, about six miles In
length, equipped with five ears and run by
steam motors. 1t will be In operation TO the
Big Sioux river by June /. A full description
OF that notable suburban improvement would
require a column Of space. 1t is undoubted-
" destined to become famous as a summer
resort.
One or the most important projected i'm
provements TO give the future residents of
Sioux City the means OF rapid transit IS the
cable ear line, which Is now being construct.
ed due north from the principal business
street into the center ofa very desirable prop
erty recently plated as an addition. Hun
dreds OF teams are at work grading the
streets, and within a short time the cable
wis WIN SCt utIc. All lucSc ldClllJlcS IOT
transit will enable the coming thousands to
spread out In various directions from the now
crowded residence portions of the city.
The city is lighted by gas and two electric
light plants-the Brush and Edison's mean
descent. 1t has a telephone exchange with
many miles OF wire through the city, connect
ing with some twenty seven Of the principal
towns In this section.
Pure water Is is supplied by an excellent
syestem OF water works. combination of the
Holly ard reservoir. An abundant supply is
obtained h a system OF drive wells, yielding
a sufficient quantity to serve a city OF more
than double its present size. The water must
of necessity be of the purest quality.
Some of the principal streets are severed
and paved. The pavements used are the Mich
olson patent, and it is estimated that they
now extend a distance of three miles, to be
doubled during the season. AS an indication
OF the
MORAL y ISTELLECTUAL STATUS
Of the people, it may be stated that the visitor
will find here churches OF all religious faiths
known In civilized countries, In which ser.
vices are held every Sabbath. There Is q
hourishing Y. NJ. &. A. organization In whose
rooms are the attractions of a gymnasium
and bathing appliances to make pure and
strong the outer as well as the inner man.
Le' II be known that the population OF this
city are largely natives OF New England and
other eastern states, hundreds of tie adults
being graduates of eastern schools. la fact,
there is no place In the west that presents
more strlkingly the appearance Of a typical
eastern city than this place, which a Chicago
daily slanderously designated the "Sodom Of
America, - because of the one notable tragic
event In its annals. There is nothing what
ever 70 Justify the charge that the city Is a
whit worse, in point Of morals, than the
scores Of other places OF equal size. In fact,
in view of its location and rapid growth, 1t is
an exceptionally staid and moral city.
The school system is well Organized, and
tb' buildings are handsome and commodious.
One of the best indications Of the character
and enterprise of a town is given b. its news
papers; and, judged by this test, Sioux City
certainly takes a high rank. The daily morn
ing Journal is a model paper, ranking as one
of the best in the western states. The even
Ing papers, the Tribune and the Times, are
worthy and prosperous representatives of the
evening press. They are all elevating In tone
and ably conducted. The Call. a society pa
per, and the Telegram are both excellent
weeklies.
REAL ESTATE VALUES.
Sioux City has never had a real estate
boom, In the ordinary sense OF the term. The
people here have been too busy building up
their industries, extending their lines of traf-
tc, constructing railroads, and de- 'oping
the resources Of the country, to stop and
spend their time betting on what certain lots
viii be worth In thirty or ninety days. as a
consequence, there has been no gaseous infa-
ton beyond actual values. There has been d
steady appreciation In the prices Of real es.
tate, and, In fact, the increase has been OF
late quite rapid; but as yet prices are far
below the figures said TO be readily paid IL
''boomed" towns.
For example, In Kansas City some of the
best unimproved lots sell as high as a, coo
per front foot. In Omaha 81, 900 per foot is
about the high-water mark. In Sioux City
the very best and most eiigibly situated va
cant lots can he obtained at 500 per front
foot.
II must be seen at a glance that in view of
the future prospects OF THE city prices are
very greatly below the figures obtainable in
other places wherein the "boomersn have
been operating. Excellent and most prom
Using business lots can he had here on the
main thoroughfares at from 300 to S400 per
front foot. AS compared with Omaha and
Kansas City these are "way down. figures.
And this shows a healthy margin for ~appreci-
alton. In the nature OF things there must be
u steady advance. The indications are that
the bridge, railroad extensions, stock yard
improvements, street car extensions. and
other enterprises will make the increase of
values Of real estate more marked and rapid
In the near future than It has ever been in
the past. Eligible lots are being eagerly
bought by capitalists, not to sell again, but
to cover with substantial buildings and bust